I was in Hartford, Connecticut for the last four days, performing bridesmaid duties for a college friend. It was fun; I didn’t get around to asking strangers for directions to Stars Hollow like I planned, but still fun.
Then came the plane ride home.
All’s well that ends well, so this actually isn’t much of a travel horror story. But it almost was. My flight from Hartford to Chicago was delayed, and I almost missed my connecting flight to San Diego. The only reason I didn’t was because the connecting flight was slightly delayed also. At first, I was never so happy to see a flight delayed. Then, I was informed that San Diego was fogged in (?!?!) and they were diverting our flight to Los Angeles. They would then put us on busses and drive down to San Diego. This would get us into San Diego at about 1:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m. for those of us (like myself) still on east coast time.
Then came the plane ride home.
All’s well that ends well, so this actually isn’t much of a travel horror story. But it almost was. My flight from Hartford to Chicago was delayed, and I almost missed my connecting flight to San Diego. The only reason I didn’t was because the connecting flight was slightly delayed also. At first, I was never so happy to see a flight delayed. Then, I was informed that San Diego was fogged in (?!?!) and they were diverting our flight to Los Angeles. They would then put us on busses and drive down to San Diego. This would get us into San Diego at about 1:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m. for those of us (like myself) still on east coast time.
Near the end of the flight, the captain came on and said, “Folks we’re about 40 minutes from landing in … San Diego.” The whole plane burst into applause. It was great. But it got me thinking: This was nearly one of those hellish travel stories that you read about and pray will never happen to you. Have you guys ever actually had one of those stories happen to you?
What’s your worst travel experience?
12 comments:
When I took my cursed Chicago trip earlier this year, I was delayed nearly 2 hours in SD and didn't get to Chicago until, like, 1am. Then, I accidentally overslept and missed my flight home and had to buy another ticket to fly the next day because I was so tired (read: hungover) I didn't want to wait standby. That was a big ol' nightmare, but as I shouldn't have taken the trip to begin with, it was all my fault and I can't really complain.
One time a long time ago, I was at a bus terminal in Mexico at 3am or some ungodly hour, I didn't know a lick of Spanish, and guys with machine guns were surrounding me.
Plus I was out of money, and had no ticket to anywhere nor any food or no phone nor anything. Just me, Juan, Oscar, Geraldo, their amigos, and their guns - speaking fast and looking somewhat angry with me.
That was my worst.
Worst was driving from Philly to NYC. Then nonstop to Hong Kong (didn't sleep a wink). Then 3 hour ride van ride into mainline China. A was delirious!
Should I talk about the time I left Lake Tahoe at 10am on Sunday morning and didn't get home until after midnight on Monday and had to sleep in the Salt Lake City airport where Mormons woke me up by asking me if I'd heard the good news? Or the time that all my friends made it on the flight home from Venice and I had to spend the night in Italy by myself? Or the time I lugged a closet on wheels on a train from Berlin to Amsterdam, only to arrive at the hotel and be told that they overbooked and there were no rooms available? Or maybe the time my flight from Costa Rica made an emergency landing in Miami because some dude in first class got deathly ill and started projectile vomiting on other passengers... Tough decision...
During my second year of living in Japan I flew out to spend Christmas with Future Mrs Imaginary Reviewer in Canada. The flight back from Toronto to Tokyo was the worst I have ever experienced.
To begin with, our plane was delayed by several hours, including 90 minutes spent on the tarmac while they waited for a contract of some description. In the air we endured literally 45 minutes of the worst turbulence I have ever experienced, during which the pilot gave the warning to the flight staff that they were a step away from getting us in bracing positions.
Whisky was spilled. In my lap.
We arrived 4 hours late, too late for any connecting flight to Nagoya (let alone the one we were supposed to be on) and too late even to get the bullet train. We were put up in a terrible Tokyo hotel and had to get up at 5 the next morning for our connection.
Air Canada: Shit on a Shit Sandwich.
One time, they were out of Dom in first class and I was subjected to Kristal.
That sucked.
Boston to Cape Cod. Those planes are tiny. I just thanked god my last name isn't Kennedy...
Off topic: Sorry I wasn't able to ditch work to spend the day wandering around with you. Next time you are randomly in the area for some obscure event I will try to pencil you in.
This gives me an idea to post my terrible travel story from last year. So mine can be found on my blog later tonight!
And I agree with Zibbs...nonstop to Hong Kong sucks ass, especially in coach.
It was close, but I think The Imaginary Reviewer wins!
I went to college in Hartford. That place is pretty much terrible in every way.
Hi,
Hey thanks for all the information.
That the most horrible pic that I have ever seen. I am a frequent traveler, I always see that my travel agent books all my travel and hotel tickets well in advance.
Hey,
Even I have undergone a terrible travel nightmare. I can't just tell about it.Really very horrible.
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